MPs to vet Kenya cohesion team

The commissioners of Kenya's cohesion body will undergo Parliamentary approval before they are reappointed.

MPs rejected an attempt by government to have the National Reconciliation and Integration Commission (NCIC) team, whose term expires in two months renewed exclusively by the President.

The Commission, chaired by Mzalendo Kibunjia was formed in 2009 to lead efforts to reconcile the country following the 2007/08 post election violence.

The nine commissioners are eligible to serve two terms renewable after three years. Their current term ends in September.

Attorney General Githu Muigai had proposed in the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill a new provision to the National  Cohesion and Integration Act 2008, to have the President renew their term through a notice in the Kenya Gazette.

But the proposals were rejected by MPs, including  members of the House Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs insisting that the commissioners be vetted anew before they are recruited for another term.

Instead, Turkana Central MP Ekwee Ethuro and Charles Keter (Belgut) successfully amended the  bill to have Parliament approve the reappointment of the commissioners.

MPs Jakoyo  Midiwo (Gem) and John Mbadi (Gwasi) had proposed changes to block the President's sole prerogative of renewing their contract. They suggested that the AG's proposals be deleted from the bill.

Mr Keter also proposed that the reappointment by the President be approved Parliament.

Nominated MP George Nyamweya, a member of the Legal Affairs team, said the House had set a precedent when it rejected the President's reappointment of the former anti-corruption boss on grounds that it was unconstitutional.

Mr Muigai said in proposing the amendment, the government position was that in the case the commissioners engaged in misconduct there were structures to deal with it.